SpreadsheetFix vs Power Query
Power Query, built into Excel and Power BI, records every transformation step so you can refresh a report when new data arrives. It's the right tool for repeatable pipelines. SpreadsheetFix is for fixing a file quickly when you don't want to build one.
| Aspect | SpreadsheetFix | Power Query |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Any modern browser | Excel (Windows, with fewer features on Mac) and Power BI |
| Repeatable steps | No; you choose rules for each file | Recorded, refreshable query steps |
| Learning curve | Pick rules, preview, download | Query editor; M language for advanced steps |
| Trim | Trims ends and collapses inner spaces | Text.Trim trims ends only |
| Duplicates | Matched after normalising whitespace | Remove Duplicates is exact and case-sensitive |
| Mixed date formats in one column | Detected per column | One locale per column; mixed orders need custom steps |
| Encoding | Detected from the file's bytes | Guessed on import; corrected by hand with File Origin |
| Size | 500,000 rows on Pro | Millions of rows |
Choose Power Query when
- The same report is refreshed from new data every week or month.
- You need to join several tables or load into the Data Model.
- The files are larger than 500,000 rows.
Choose SpreadsheetFix when
- You need a clean file now, not a query to maintain.
- You're on a computer without Excel for Windows.
- You want to hand the job to someone who doesn't use Power Query.
A pipeline versus a pass
Power Query's strength is repeatability: once the steps are built, refreshing applies them to new data. That's worth the setup for recurring reports. For a one-off export, or for files that change shape each time, a single cleaning pass is faster.
They work well together
Some teams clean awkward exports in SpreadsheetFix first, for example repairing garbled encoding or mixed date formats, and then load the cleaned file in Power Query, where the remaining steps are simpler.
Questions
Is Power Query available on Mac?
Yes, in Microsoft 365 for Mac, but with fewer data sources and features than on Windows.
Does Power Query's Remove Duplicates ignore case?
No, it's case-sensitive by default. Lowercase or trim the column first, or clean the file in SpreadsheetFix before loading it.